Stranded or solid THHN

[wantacoe]

I have decided to use thhn and conduit in my pole building. Is there a preference to use stranded or solid?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Is this for 20a 120v circuits or?

If you use it on 120v outlets, i would use sta-kons for connection to the terminals

 

[Jim greengo]

Stranded is easier to pull,solid holds its shape better when making up the panel.
I'd normally go with solid,its usually cheaper also.

 

[Stuart in MN]

For #14 or #12 (depending on the ampacity of your circuits) I think it's more personal preference than anything.

 

[wantacoe]

Is this for 20a 120v circuits or?

If you use it on 120v outlets, i would use sta-kons for connection to the terminals

Yes, 20 amp 120. But i will also need 50amp for welder.

 

[Norcal]

Solid is only a option with 10,12,14, AWG, 8 & larger is stranded only.

 

[7635tools]

I would use stranded. Solid wire *****. Solid does form better for trimming the panel but trying to add wires in the conduit down the road is a pain with solid. Stranded wire is easier to pack in the boxes when trimming outlets and switches. Me personally, I never use solid wire.

 

[Bert_]

I hardly ever pull stranded in #12 or #14 for switches and outlets. Almost always solid.

Wire to motors or in control cabinets I'll pull stranded in any size.

 

[sberry]

I guess it's personel, I like stranded. It doesn't tend to loosen the screws on devices pushing then in boxes. Doesn't give permanent bends so to speak when doing complicated pulls. I don't even stock solid.

 

[Terry D]

Stranded with back wired devices

Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[sberry]

I never have an issue with screws. I strip a little long, left twist and can wrap enough I can pinch the dead eND around and pull on it whill tightening the screw. I have worked on a lot of my old own work, never find them loose.
I do use a crimp connector on ground wires to steel boxes most of the time.

 

[Showkey]

For the DIY guy the stranded ends Terminal are the wild card........poor fit, poor crimps.

 

[nadogail]

I don't buy Solid THHN/THWN. In fact the only solid wire I but is "Romex".

 

[theoldwizard1]

If you use stranded (and I would) spend the extra money and buy "side clamp" duplex outlets. So much easier and faster to terminate !

 

[wyliesdiesels]

If you use stranded (and I would) spend the extra money and buy "side clamp" duplex outlets. So much easier and faster to terminate !

Theyre called backwire

 

[sberry]

I keep a couple back wire around for old work. I was in my truck the other day and wanted a 49 cent one and finally all I could find was a better one. Ha But they can save where old **** is small enough already.

 

[nsula_country]

stranded wire. and use sta-kon forks.

CT

 

[sberry]

I done it enough can make a good connection screw and sidewire. Using 4x4 boxes for power beyond with pigtails makes for good connections. I am a bit of a fussy **** with wire nuts with 3 or more, make them long, twist the nut on some, back off, trim and screw on really tight.

 

[sberry]

Strip a fat inch long, twist hard left, can make a generous u around the screw and can kind of tension it around the screw as it binds down. On solid I test run the push in to the box and hyper tighten it with solid at the last second.

 

[engineer2]

Around here it's solid for #12 and #14, stranded for anything bigger. We are EMT conduit.

 

[wantacoe]

Thanks for all the replies. Looks like it is just a matter or preference.

 

[sparky 1971]

Yep. It's all personal preference. Solid is easier to push and make up. Stranded is easier to pull. I usually use stranded, but only because I don't normally have any help.